Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for a major escalation of the war in Ukraine by planning to mobilise around 500,000 new fighters in the coming weeks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned. Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence believes Putin could begin the mobilisation after Russia's parliamentary elections in September. The warning comes as Russia and Ukraine continue to intensify attacks deep inside each other's territory.

Zelensky said Putin is not prepared to end the war and is considering another large-scale mobilisation. "Putin is not ready to stop this war. Our intelligence reports that he is preparing for mobilisation. He wants to do it after his elections to the Duma on September 21," Zelensky wrote in a post on X last month after an interview with Sky News.

According to Zelensky, Putin is unlikely to announce the mobilisation openly. He claimed the Russian leader is concerned about public reaction inside the country. Zelensky also said Russia would struggle to train such a large number of recruits in a short period. This could result in poorly trained soldiers being sent to the battlefield.

"He wrote that Putin will not mobilise new fighters "openly" as he is "afraid of his society". The Ukrainian leader also wrote that Russia will not be able to train a large number of people quickly and there will be "poorly trained people on the battlefield.

"This, in turn, means a lot of losses," he added."

Zelensky's warning comes at a time when Ukraine has increased its long-range attacks on targets inside Russia. Kyiv has repeatedly used drones to strike areas far from the front line. Russia has also stepped up its attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure. The growing intensity of these strikes has raised concerns about a wider escalation of the conflict.

Amid the escalation, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has warned that the conflict could reach a stage where Putin considers using Russia's nuclear weapons. Fidan made the remarks while speaking on Anadolu's Editor's Desk programme. He referred to the possibility as Putin's "last resort" as the war increasingly affects areas away from the front line.

"When a war of attrition at the front turns into attrition in the rear, the question is no longer whether to lose the war, but whether you will continue to exist as a nation. You use the last resort you have," Fidan said in Anadolu's Editor's Desk programme, referring to Russia's nuclear capabilities.

Fidan described the situation as dangerous and said the possibility of nuclear escalation has been discussed with Western countries. He also referred to his visit to Russia, where he said he sensed that the issue could come up amid calls from some sections of the Russian public for stronger action.

"During my visit to Russia, it seemed that this issue could be raised, as there was talk that the public is demanding something of the sort. We have discussed this with Western partners, and they are aware of it as well. This is a dangerous situation. Everything that people say will not happen ultimately does happen," he added.

The remarks underscore growing concerns among countries involved in diplomatic efforts to end the war. Russia has repeatedly warned that continued attacks on its territory could lead to further escalation. Ukraine, meanwhile, has continued to target Russian military and strategic sites with long-range drones.

The United Nations has said both Russia and Ukraine have significantly increased their long-range attacks this year. The rise in such strikes has also contributed to a sharp increase in civilian deaths. Attacks are no longer limited to areas close to the front line, with both sides increasingly targeting locations deep inside enemy territory.

A Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's central Tatarstan region on Monday killed at least 13 people. The attack was among the deadliest carried out by Kyiv since the war began more than four years ago. The strike showed the growing reach of Ukraine's drone campaign and its ability to hit targets far from the battlefield.

Russia also launched deadly attacks against Ukraine on Monday. Near the front line, Russian artillery fire killed five people in a village in the northeastern Kharkiv region, according to local Ukrainian officials. The attack added to the civilian toll as fighting continues across several parts of Ukraine.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces shot down 456 Ukrainian drones during overnight attacks. The ministry did not state how many drones reached their intended targets. Ukraine's air force, meanwhile, said Russia launched 126 drones during its overnight attack on Ukraine.

The latest attacks highlight the continuing escalation in the war, with both countries expanding their use of drones and long-range weapons. Zelensky's warning about a possible mobilisation of 500,000 additional Russian fighters and Fidan's comments about the risk of nuclear escalation have added to concerns that the conflict could become even more intense in the coming weeks.